decrease

To become smaller in amount, number, or value.

• The number of visitors decreased.
• Prices have decreased by ten percent.
• Will demand decrease next year?

How to use it: decrease by an amount (Sales decreased by twenty percent.); decrease from A to B (Attendance decreased from fifty to thirty.); decrease in something (The shares decreased in value.)

Similar words: fall, drop, decline

Opposites: increase, rise

Common phrases: decrease by something, decrease in value, decrease in size, decrease over time

To make an amount, number, or level smaller.

• Please decrease the volume.
• The company decreased its spending last month.
• Can we decrease the risk of accidents?

How to use it: decrease something by an amount (We decreased the price by five pounds.); decrease something to an amount (Decrease the temperature to twenty degrees.)

Similar words: reduce, lower, cut

Opposites: increase, raise

Common phrases: decrease the volume, decrease something by

A change that makes an amount, number, or value smaller.

• There was a decrease in sales.
• The town reported a sharp decrease in crime.
• A decrease in temperature is expected tonight.

How to use it: a decrease in something (We noticed a decrease in noise.)

Similar words: reduction, drop, decline

Opposites: increase, rise

Common phrases: decrease in something, sharp decrease

The amount by which a number, value, or quantity becomes smaller.

• The decrease was five percent.
• We recorded a decrease of twenty customers.
• This year’s decrease was larger than last year’s.

How to use it: a decrease of an amount (There was a decrease of ten percent.)

Similar words: reduction, drop

Opposites: increase

Common phrases: decrease of something, annual decrease